Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms: An Overview

Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms An OverviewPancreatic fannycer often goes undetected until its advanced and difficult to treat. In the commodious majority of cases, symptoms only mature after pancreatic spatecer has boastful and begun to spread.Because to a greater extent than than 95% of pancreatic suffercer is the adenocarcinoma graphic symbol, well place those symptoms early, followed by symptoms of r ar forms of pancreatic passelcer.Recommended Related to Pancreatic CancerUnderstanding Pancreatic Cancer the BasicsThe pancreas is an organ located behind your stomach coterminous to the top of the slight intestine. It is about six inches big but is less than 2 inches wide and functions as two separate organs. It has two big manufacturing jobs in the consistence It makes digestive juices that suffice the intestines break down food. It bring ins hormones including insulin that regulate the bodys use of sugars and starches. The pancreas is sh bed into three sections th e flip, the body, and the tail. ThePancreatic Cancer Symptoms Location MattersInitially, pancreatic crabmeat tends to be silent and inconvenience oneselfless as it grows. By the time its large enough to cause symptoms, pancreatic cancer has generally grown outside the pancreas. At this point, symptoms attend on the cancers location within the pancreasPancreatic cancer in the head of the pancreas tends to cause symptoms such as weight handout, jaundice (yellow shin), vileness urine, light gutter color, itchiness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal b otheration, back pain, enlarged lymph nodes in the neck.Pancreatic cancer in the body or tail of the pancreas usually causes belly and/or back pain and weight neediness.In general, symptoms appear precedent from cancers in the head of the pancreas, compargond to those in the body and tail.Pancreatic Cancer Gastrointestinal SymptomsBecause pancreatic cancer grows around consequential aras of the digestive system, gastrointestinal s ymptoms often predominateAbdominal pain. More than 80% of spate with pancreatic cancer eventually experience some abdominal pain as the tumor grows. Pancreatic cancer can cause a dull ache in the upper paunch radiating to the back. The pain whitethorn conform to and go.Bloating. Some populate with pancreatic cancer digest a sense of early magnificence with meals (satiety) or an uncomfortable swelling in the abdomen. nauseaDiarrheaPale-colored sas wellls. If the duct draining crust into the intestine is blocked by pancreatic cancer, the stools may lose their brown color and become pale or clay-colored. Urine may become darker.Pancreatic Cancer Constitutional (Whole-Body) SymptomsAs it grows and spreads, pancreatic cancer affects the whole body. Constitutional symptoms can includeWeight lossMalaiseLoss of appetiteElevated slant sugars. Some people with pancreatic cancer develop diabetes as the cancer impairs the pancreas ability to mystify insulin. (However, the vast majority of people with a new diagnosis of diabetes do non have pancreatic cancer.)Pancreatic Cancer Skin SymptomsJaundice As pancreatic cancer blocks the duct that releases bile into the intestine ( popular bile duct), the ingredients of bile build up in the line of products. This turns the skin and the eyeball yellow, a condition called jaundice. The same auction block causes dark urine and light-colored stools.Itching People with pancreatic cancer sometimes report itching all over. Blockage of the bile ducts is often responsible.Symptoms of utmost-minded Pancreatic Cancers isle cell tumors, also called neuroendocrine tumors, cut from the cells in the pancreas that make hormones. Islet cell tumors account for only 1.5% of all pancreas tumors.Like pancreatic adenocarcinoma, islet cell tumors may cause abdominal pain, weight loss, nausea, and vomiting. Hormones released by an islet cell tumor can also cause symptomsInsulinomas (excess insulin) sweating, anxiety, lightheadedness, and fainting from low blood sugar.Glucagonomas (excess glucagon) diarrhea, excessive thirst or urination, weight loss.Gastrinomas (excess gastrin) abdominal pain, nonhealing stomach ulcers, reflux, weight loss.Somatostatinomas (excess somatostatin) diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal pain, foul-smelling suety stools.VIPomas (excess vasoactive intestinal peptide) abdominal cramping, watery diarrhea, nervus facialis flushing.Pancreatic Cancers Sneaky SymptomsIn a rattling small number of people with pancreatic cancer, early symptoms might be present that could lead to an earlier diagnosis. Unfortunately, researchers have been unable to identify any predictable pattern. One study that surveyed 305 people with pancreatic cancer illustrated the challengeAbout 4% reported having a sudden disgust for preferred tastes (like c absentee, smoking, or wine) that preceded other symptoms by more than than six months.5% of people had loss of appetite, a feeling of early fullness with meals, or profou nd fadedness, more than six months originally more obvious symptoms developed.1% of people had attacks of acute pancreatitis more than six months ahead their diagnosis with pancreatic cancer.The rarity and wraithlikeness of these situations points out the difficulty of using early symptoms to catch pancreatic cancer at an earlier stage.That said, symptoms like weight loss, persistent loss of appetite, yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine, or light-colored stools should ceaselessly prompt concern. Consistent or worsenedning discomfort, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea are also disconcerting. If you feel somethings non right, see your vivify.MedicineNet, 2013What are the symptoms and signs of pancreatic cancer?Because the pancreas lies deep in the belly in front of the spine, pancreatic cancer often grows silently for months before it is discovered. ahead of time symptoms can be absent or quite subtle. More easily identifiable symptoms develop once the tumor grows large enou gh to press on other honestby structures such as nerves (which causes pain), the intestines (which affects appetite and causes nausea along with weight loss), or the bile ducts (which causes jaundice or a yellowing of the skin and can cause loss of appetite and itching). Symptoms in women rarely differ from those in men. Once the tumor sheds cancer cells into the blood and lymph systems and metastasizes, more symptoms usually arise depending on the location of the metastasis. Frequent sites of metastasis for pancreatic cancer include the liver, the lymph nodes, and the lining of the abdomen (called the peritoneum). Unfortunately, most pancreatic cancers are found after the cancer has grown beyond the pancreas or has metastasized to other places.2013 Pancreatic Cancer UKSigns and symptomsSigns and symptoms are diagnostic tools that help doctors to work out what is wrong with someone and make a diagnosis.Symptoms are the things that you are experiencing, e.g. pain or loss of appetite that you will tell your doctor about.Signs are what the doctor can see when they examine someone, e.g. someone wincing when they lead a painful area.Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancerPancreatic cancer doesnt usually give rise to any symptoms or signs in the early stages. This is the main causality it can be so difficult to detect and diagnose. As the cancer grows the symptoms it causes will depend on the type of pancreatic cancerand where it is in the pancreas.Any symptoms people do have can be quite vague and may come and go at first. An example is abdominal pain, which may start off as occasional discomfort before becoming more painful and more frequent. The symptoms can also be a sign of other more common, less serious illnesses. This representation that people may end up seeing their GP several times or being sent for a number of different testsbefore pancreatic cancer is even forecasted.It is important to remember that any of the symptoms described here are common for mints of illnesses and may non be a sign of pancreatic cancer. only if if you have persistent unexplained symptoms its important for your GP to refer you for tests to explore what iscausing them. It can help to note down the frequency of your symptoms and mention anything unusual you are experiencing, even if it seems unrelated. If your symptoms get worse or you develop any new symptoms short you should always get in touch with your GP.Most common symptoms of pancreatic cancerMost pancreatic cancers are exocrine neoplasms (90%). Their symptoms can be real vague and depend on whether the tumour is in the head, body or tail of the pancreas.Abdominal pain cark is a symptom in about 70% of pancreatic cancer cases. It often starts as general discomfort or pain in the abdomen (tummy) which can spread to the back. It can be worse after eating or when you are lying down. Sitting forward can sometimes relieve the pain. At first the pain may come and go, but over time it may become mor e constant. If any of the organs (pancreas, liver or gall bladder) in your abdomen are exacerbate or enlarged the area may also be tender to touch. put out is caused by the cancer affecting nerves or organs near the pancreas. It can also be a result of a tumour causing a blockage in the stomach or duodenum (top part of the small intestines).JaundiceJaundice occurs in about 50% of pancreatic cancer cases. Its an illness where the skin and the whites of the eyes turn yellow. Other signs of jaundice include dark urine, pale stools and itchy skin.Jaundice develops when there is a build-up in the blood of a chemical called bilirubin. This chemical is always present in the blood. It usually gets take away from the body in the bile fluid produced by the liver which empties into the small intestines through the bile duct. Cancer growing in the pancreas can block the bile duct so that bile and bilirubin keep building up in the body. This is known as obstructive jaundice.Jaundice can be cau sed by other non-cancerous conditions, such as a gallstone blocking the bile duct, so its important for all the obvious causes to be explored.Weight lossLosing a lot of weight for no particular reason can be a sign that something is wrong. People may also notice a loss of appetite or changes in what they feel like eating.Pancreatic cancer can affect the ability of the pancreas to produce digestive enzymes that help to digest food. This means that the body cant digest food properly or get the nutrients it inescapably, leading to weight loss. Weight loss is more common with cancers in the head of the pancreas.Other common symptoms of pancreatic cancerThese symptoms are also common, though not everyone will have every symptom. People may have these symptoms before a diagnosis, develop them later on, or perhaps not get them at all. intestine problemsA condition called steatorrhoea (stools that are large, pale, oily, floating and smelly) is a common symptom of diseases of the pancreas. It happens because the cancer affects the production of the enzymes needed to digest food, particularly high fat food. Undigested food passing quickly through the body can also cause diarrhoea and subsequent weight loss.Nausea and vomitingNausea (feeling sick) and sickness can occur for several different reasons. A tumour can block the bile duct or press on the duodenum, which obstructs digestion. It may also cause inflammation around it in the pancreas, or jaundice. two of these can lead to a chemical imbalance in the body which can make people feel sick.Fever and shiveringIf the pancreas is inflamed or the ducts are blocked because of the tumour, this can cause a high temperature and shivering.DiabetesDiabetes can develop if a tumour stops the pancreas from functioning properly. This is because the pancreas produces the hormone insulin which the body needs to regulate the amount of sugar in the blood. People with diabetes often feel extremely thirsty, pass more urine than normal, lose weight and feel weak and lacking in energy.Diabetes is particularly associated with pancreatic cancer in older people. If someone develops late onset diabetes with no other explanation their GP should consider the possibility of pancreatic cancer.Symptoms of endocrine pancreatic tumoursLess than 5% of all pancreatic cancers are endocrine tumours, which develop in the hormone producing cells of the pancreas. They are divided into functioning and non-functioning tumours, depending on whether or not they overproduce hormones and cause a chemical syndrome.Most endocrine tumours do not produce a clinical syndrome (non-functioning) so they do not cause item symptoms. As they grow or spread they may cause pain, jaundice or a oaf that can be felt in the abdomen.Some endocrine tumours overproduce hormones and cause a clinical syndrome (functioning). These give rise to different symptoms depending on the type of tumour and the hormone it produces.Gastrinomas overproduce gastrin, which causes peptic ulcers in the stomach or duodenum. Symptoms include severe pain, black tarry stools and diarrhoea.Glucagonomas overproduce glucagon. Symptoms include a specific type of skin rash (redness, ulceration and scabbing), anaemia (lack of red blood cells), weight loss and inflammation inside the cheeks and lips.Insulinomas overproduce insulin, leading to hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar levels). Symptoms may include weakness, drowsiness, dizziness or lack of energy.Somatostatinomasoverproduce somatostatin, which causes gall stones, diabetes, diarrhoea and steatorrhoea.VIPomas overproduce a hormone called vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). Symptoms include watery diarrhoea, high blood pressure and flushing of the face.2009, Nick James and the late Sally TweddlePancreatic cancer symptomsThis page has information on the symptoms of pancreatic cancer. You can find the following(a) informationA quick guide to whats on this pageEarly symptomsOther symptoms of pancreatic cancerSym ptoms from endocrine pancreatic tumoursMore information exculpated boxA quick guide to whats on this pagePancreatic cancer symptomsThe most common type of cancer of the pancreas are exocrine tumours. The symptoms can be quite vague. And they vary depending on where the cancer is in your pancreas in the head, body or tail. Early symptoms can include weight loss, pain in the stomach area, back pain and jaundice.More than half(prenominal) of patients have jaundice when they first go to their doctor. Jaundice without pain is the most common reason for first going to the doctor in patients who have pancreatic cancer that can be removed with surgery. Symptoms of jaundice can include yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, severe itching, darken urine, and pale coloured stools (bowel motions).Other symptoms there are other symptoms that you can have with cancer of the pancreas. These include diabetes, itching, sickness, change in bowel motions, fever and shivering. there is an unc ommon group of pancreatic tumours called neuroendocrine tumours. About a third of these produce hormones. The symptoms are different for each type, depending on the hormone the tumour makes.You can view and print the quick guides for all the pages in the about pancreatic cancer section.Back to topEarly symptomsThe commonest types of cancer of the pancreas are exocrine tumours. The symptoms can be quite vague. And they vary depending on where the cancer is in your pancreas in the head, body or tail. Early symptoms can includeWeight lossPain in the stomach areaJaundiceMore early symptomsWeight lossPeople diagnosed with pancreatic cancer may have recently befogged a lot of weight (at least 10% of their total body weight) for no apparent reason. This symptom is more common in cancers of the head of the pancreas.Pain in the stomach areaAbout 7 out of 10 people with pancreatic cancer first go to their doctors because they have pain. Pain is more common in cancers of the body and tail of the pancreas. People describe it as a dull pain that feels as if it is boring into you. It can begin in the stomach area and spread around to the back. The pain is worse when you lie down and is better if you sit forward. It can be worse after meals. Your abdomen may also be generally tender or painful if your liver, pancreas or gallbladder are inflamed or enlarged.JaundiceMore than half of patients have jaundice when they first go to their doctors. Jaundice is yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes. The urine is darker than normal and bowel motions may be lighter in colour. Jaundice is more common with cancer of the head of the pancreas because the tumour blocks the bile duct. This tube carries bile into the duodenum. If it is blocked the bile ends up in your bloodstream instead. Bile contains a lot of yellow pigments so it turns the skin yellow. Jaundice is a common symptom of many liver and gallbladder diseases. It is often easier to spot in the whites of the eyes or else than the skin.More early symptomsOther early symptoms might include loss of appetite and back pain.Back to topOther symptoms of pancreatic cancerThere are other symptoms that you can have with cancer of the pancreas. You may have any of these symptoms from before you are diagnosed. Or you may develop them later. Of course, you may not have all of them. Not everyone has every symptom. But these non specific symptoms are common in pancreatic cancer. You may haveDiabetesItchingSicknessBowel changesFever and shiveringDiabetesSome people diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas are found to be newly diabetic. Some have been diagnosed with diabetes within the previous year. If you have diabetes you are not producing enough insulin. So there is too much sugar in your blood. The sugar is passed out of the body in the urine and takes a great deal of water with it. This causesThirstPassing a lot of urineWeaknessWeight loss and hungerItchingYou may have itching if you have bad jaundice. The bile salts in the bloodstream cause itching in the skin.SicknessYou may feel or be sick because you have jaundice or an inflamed pancreas. Both these conditions upset the delicate chemical balance of the body, which can make you sick. You may also be sick if the cancer, or inflammation around it, is beginning to block the duodenum. This will stop digested food from passing through to the small bowel.Bowel changesAgain, if you have jaundice you may develop a symptom called steatorrhoea. This means fatty stools. You may pass frequent, large bowel motions that are pale coloured and smelly. These bowel disturbances can mean that you are not absorbing your food properly. So this may be a cause of weight loss.Fever and shiveringYou may have a temperature from time to time because you have jaundice or an inflamed pancreas. When your temperature is high you may feel cold and shivery.Back to topSymptoms from endocrine pancreatic tumoursEndocrine pancreatic tumours are uncommon. They are also cal led neuroendocrine tumours. About a third of these pancreatic tumours produce hormones (functional tumours). The symptoms are different for each type, depending on the hormone the tumour produces. They areInsulinomaGastrinomaSomatostatinomaVIPomaGlucagonomaInsulinomasInsulinomas produce too much insulin, causing weakness, loss of energy, dizziness and drowsiness.GastrinomasGastrinomas produce too much gastrin, causing peptic ulcers in the stomach or duodenum. This leads to severe pain, bleeding causing black tarry stools (faeces), and diarrhoea.SomatostatinomasSomatostatinomas produce too much of a hormone called somatostatin. This causes gallstones, diabetes and diarrhoea with bulky fatty and smelly stools (steatorrhoea).VIPomasVIPomas produce too much of a hormone called VIP. This causes a great deal of watery diarrhoea, flushing of the face, and high blood pressure.GlucagonomasGlucagonomas produce too much of a hormone called glucagon. This causes a very specific type of skin ras h (redness, ulceration and scabbing), anaemia, mouth ulcers and diarrhoea.About two thirds of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours do not produce hormones and so do not cause specific symptoms. As these tumours get larger or spread they may cause symptoms such as pain, a lump in the abdomen or jaundice.The average general health article on pancreatic cancer states flatly that there are no early symptoms of pancreatic cancer. People diagnosed with pancreatic cancer are normally already in the advanced stage of the disease by the time its caught, and the typical prognosis is death within five years.With pancreatic cancer much on everyones mind due to the untimely death of Steve Jobs, it seems like a slap-up time to ask the question thats on all of our mindsAre there any early warning signs of pancreatic cancer?The answer is yes, there are. But to understand these signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer, its important to understand where the pancreas is, and what it does.Located deep in side the abdomen, the pancreas is only 4 to 6 inches long and shaped like a tadpole. In the tail of the pancreas are cells that produce insulin, and tumors at this end are usually endocrine tumors. Theyre easier to diagnose, but are much rarer. At the other end, the head of the pancreas, are cells that produce digestive enzymes, and tumors at this end are called exocrine tumors. These are by far the most common, and are much more difficult to detect.However, the root word that a pancreatic tumor is asymptomatic is a bit of a myth. Dig deep into journal articles and ask patients what they remember and the result is a long list of odd signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer to watch out for.Taken one by one, these symptoms could mean many things. But if you find yourself experiencing two or three of these early warning signs of pancreatic cancer, call your doctor and ask for a scan. Imaging techniques such as MRIs can detect pancreatic cancer some of the time, depending on the locati on of the tumor.Early Warning Signs of Pancreatic CancerDiabetes, especially if it comes on suddenly. Recently, the Mayo Clinic published startling research showing that 40 percent of pancreatic cancer patients had been diagnosed with diabetes one to two years before discovering they had a pancreatic tumor. Researchers believe the diabetes is caused by tumors that simply havent been detected yet. The problem is, diabetes is very common, and the majority of diabetes isnt pancreatic cancer, so doctors are trying to develop screening tools to tell the difference. Right now, they say family history is an important mite. If youre diagnosed with diabetes that seems to come on suddenly and you have no family history of diabetes, bring this to your doctors attention and ask for further screening for pancreatic cancer.Yellowing of the eyes or skin. Even a small pancreatic tumor can block the bile duct in the head of the pancreas, causing bile to build up. This causes jaundice.Itchy skin, pa lms, and soles of feet. A little-known side-effect of jaundice is itchy give and feet. Its due to a skin reaction to the bilirubin, the yellowish brown liver chemical that causes jaundice.Lack of appetite. An Italian study found that six to eight months before being diagnosed with pancreatic tumors, patients reported a sudden drop in their appetite and a tendency to feel full after eating very little.Changes in taste. In the same Italian study, some of the patients surveyed said theyd suddenly lost their taste for umber, wine, and smoking. In fact, they said, they felt disgust for the smell and taste of coffee and alcohol.Abdominal pain. Pancreatic cancer sufferers remember this pain as a gnawing pain, rather than a sharp cramp or ache, and it radiates toward the back. A characteristic clue the pain goes away when you lean forward.An enlarged gall bladder. The same blockage of the bile duct that causes jaundice can also cause an enlarged gallbladder, as the bile builds up behind th e duct. The good news is that an enlarged gallbladder can be seen on imaging tests, and it may even be attainable for a doctor to feel it during a physical exam.Pale, floating, smelly stools. If a pancreatic tumor prevents digestive enzymes from reaching the intestine, the result is an inability to digest fatty foods. So you end up with loose, smelly floaters as a result of the excess fat. Doctors say this symptom, in particular, can be an early clue and is too often overlooked.Dark, tarry stools. Bleeding in the upper intestines causes this symptom.Sudden, unexplained weight loss. Weight loss is not always, as many people mistakenly believe, a sign of advanced cancer thats spread to the liver. It can also happen because a lack of pancreatic enzymes is causing fat to pass through the body undigested.What do you do if youre worried about any of these symptoms?Document all symptoms, and report them to your doctor in as much detail as possible. If your doctor is convinced you have leg itimate concerns (and remember, you may have to do some convincing) tests such as an ultrasound, a CT scan, and an endoscopy followed by a biopsy can be used to search for a pancreatic tumor. Theres also a blood test for a biomarker called CA-19-9 that can be used in conjunction with other tests to diagnose pancreatic cancer early.While tragic early deaths like Steve Jobs are the hard reality of pancreatic cancer, there are also people living productive lives thanks to an early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Such was the case with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whos still practicing after having a tiny pancreatic tumor surgically removed. Yes, she got lucky, as she put it but she also got a CT scan, which is how the tumor was found.Further ReadingIslet mobile phone Tumors (Endocrine Pancreas) Treatment (PDQ)Pancreatic Islet Cell Transplantation for Diabetes-Topic OverviewPancreatic Islet Cell Transplantation for Diabetes-Related InformationPancreatic Islet Cell TumorI slet Cell Carcinoma (Endocrine Pancreas)Islet Cell Carcinoma (Endocrine Pancreas)Islet Cell Carcinoma (Endocrine Pancreas)See All Islet Cell Tumors Topics